The finalist teams were selected after a three-month development phase working with Airbus mentors.

The seven finalist teams are:

Airbus Integrated Fisheries Information Services(Team AirFish, University of Cambridge, UK): AirFish is an ocean monitoring system using satellite imagery and video imaging technology. This project aims to improve the efficiency of fish farming, making food production more affordable while reducing open-water fishing and environmental impacts.

Automated Intelligent Real-Time Quality Inspection Exploiting Human-Robot-Collaboration (Team AIQinspect, Saarland University, Germany): AIQinspect will assist the human operator in performing rivet inspection by using AI. Quality is predicted based on images and physical parameters while riveting in real time. The resulting information is communicated to the operator via augmented reality.

Batteryless Wireless Switches for Airplanes (Team “Zero” Heroes, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands): This idea aims to solve the main limitation for IoT in aircraft by removing battery integration, which is currently a current challenge for safety and regulation. Furthermore, it aims to reduce fuel consumption and weight while simplifying aircraft retrofit and maintenance needs.

Motor Intra-body Cooling System - MICS (Team Osprey, University of Strathclyde, UK): The team is replacing the traditional method of cooling electric motors with a water jacket or submerged cooling with a cooling system integrated inside the body of the motor itself. It has potential applications for urban air mobility and hybrid electric aircraft.

The Solar Windmill (Team Seren, University of Cambridge, UK): A novel method of electricity generation for spacecraft using trapped high energy particles. Using two concentric aluminium spheres, the energetic electrons flux from solar wind trapped in planetary magnetic fields can be collected and harnessed to generate power. This approach aims to store and generate energy in deep space where the current density from sunlight is low.

Swan – Smart Wheelchair for Air travel Needs (Team Move-ez, Technical University of Milan, Italy): Aims to revolutionise the air-travel experience of passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) using IoT technology. It converts a redesigned class of detachable aeroplane seats into smart electric wheelchairs that passengers can use from check-in to arrival. It is fully controllable by smartphone through a dedicated app.

A.C.A. - Earth-obserVation-data based Application for stoCkbreeding Administration(Team V.A.C.A, National University of La Plata, Argentina): VACA is an integrated service for stockbreeders, based on Earth observation, meteorological and IoT data applied to agriculture. VACA aims to provide actionable information to stockbreeders on quality and quantity of pastures, the number of animals in paddocks as well as the physical condition of cattle.

In June, the teams will travel to Toulouse, France to work in Airbus' innovation and R&D facilities to further develop, prototype or visualise their ideas using state-of-the-art equipment with support from Airbus.

On June 27, the students will present their projects in front of Airbus experts and aerospace and academic leaders. The presentations will be streamed to a global audience.

The students are competing for a share of the €45,000 prize fund and the chance to further evolve their idea in the aerospace industry.